COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19773, 21 January 1926, Page 7

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

CHARGE OF MURDER. ECHO OF BANK ROBBERY. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, January 20. (Received January 20, 8.35 p.m.) Douglas Robertson was charged with the murder of Almeida and was committed for trial. A statement alleged to have been made by Robertson was put in as evidence. It stated that Robertson is a native of New Zealand and came to Australia about 16 months ago purely on a holiday. On arrival in Melbourne he was unfortunate in making the acquaintance of Perkins. When Robertson said he desired to return to New Zealand Perkins asked if he would like to take £2OO or £3OO back with him, and outlined a scheme for robbing a teller who Perkins said was short of money and would not resist. Robertson agreed. He said that he and Perkins went to the bank, Perkins going in first. When Robertson entered he saw Perkins pointing a revolver at the teller. According to the plan, he made for the partition. He heard a deafening report and saw the teller fall. Perkins jumped over the counter. Robertson asked what he had done. Perkins replied: “Get a move on; get the money and get out.” Robertson grabbed the money and ran to the waiting motor car and eventually got home. Later he read of the teller’s death and the arrest of Perkins and remained in hiding.

A message received on December 28 stated that a sequel to the murder of William C. Almeida, manager of the Lambton (Victoria) branch of the Commercial Bank on November 28, 1924, when the bank was stuck up by two men, one of whom escaped, was enacted when Douglas Robertson, 37, described as a skilled labourer, was arrested in Sydney on a suspicion charge of murdering Almeida.

Robertson is stated to have come from New Zealand and has been in Sydney for about a month.

A man named Perkins whom Almeida, after having been wounded, held at the revolver point till arrested, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.